The 13th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health

Objective: Global Youth Tobacco Survey in backward Far Western Development Region (FWDR) of Nepal and to compare with relatively developed Central Development Region (CDR) of Nepal. This will greatly help in increasing Nepal's capacity to make tobacco control policy more effective.

Methods: A school based survey was done in backward FWDR of Nepal in the year 2003 by using the standard questionnaire and methodology as recommended by GYTS, CDC. The school response rate was 100%, student response rate and the overall response rate was 97.8%.

Results: 23.2% of the students ever used tobacco product in any form. The rate for boys 31.7% (±3.1) was significantly higher than that for the girls 13.4% (±5.1). Current users of tobacco product are 12.9%, 19.8% in boys and 5.1% in girls. The difference was significant. 85.7% of the current smokers had made an attempt to quit. 51.1% of never users and 45.9% of the current users were exposed to tobacco advertisement. 23.2% of the current smokers received free offer of tobacco products from tobacco agents. The prevalence rate of ever used tobacco in both sexes was higher in the backward FWDR as compared to CDR of Nepal (M-22.5% and F-7.9%). Even in these backward areas, there is a lot of advertisement. So, tobacco advertisement, promotion in all forms should be immediately banned. The high rate of young people making an attempt to quit smoking is encouraging and suggest that focus in the youth should not only be in prevention but also in cessation interventions.